Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-12
ALDERMANIC ACTS.
A CLOSE FIGHT OVER THE PIzzINI BE
SOLUTION, BUT IT is BEAD.
A Queer Forgery on q Membsr-The Mayor
and Judge Atkins-West End
Market Filtering.

ohdh' lion 10 THE RBCOkD.
Just after the minutes OF the pre-
ccding meeting were read and before
they were signed 10y the president Mr.
Chappell presented the following:
10 the Hon0r06ic Prosidcat and Mem
bcrs of the Boord of Aidermca Of
the Cty Of RichnOnd
Gentlemen, / desire TO state to this
honorable body my reasons for object
ing to so much of the record Just read
by the Clerk as refers to the action of
this body upon the motion for recon-
sidoration of the resolution offered by
Mr. PizZini in the Common Council
and forwarded TO us for concurrence.
believe that an error has been com
mittcd and should be corrected.
Rule AZ, page 81, of the rules govern
ing this body was apparently over
looked by the Chair in deciding the
question of reconsideration. Sixteen
members were present. As question
Of fact, nine voted for reconsideration
and seven voted against it. Two thirds
of the members present did not vote to
reconsider, as required by Rule AZ, and
the ruling Of the Chair was therefore
illegal, and the previous action OF the
Board in passing Mr.. Pizzlni's resolu-
tion was not reconsidcred. Therefore,
all subsequent action by this body
bearing on the same was and is, under
said rule, illegal, and should not be ap-
| proved bv this body.
am clearly Of the opinion that the
rule referred to was unObseryed by the
| Chair, it having heretofore been the
custom Of the Chair TO require
a recorded vote on questions re-
| curing two-thirds vote to pass them,
as the record, think, will show and
there is no good reason that | can find
or conceive, if il was not overlooked.
why an exception should have been
made in this particular case. ] am
further satisfied that the members
present many Of whom are new
mcmbcis-did not for the moment
rccur to the existence of the
rule requiring a two-thirds vote
to reconsider a question once decided
when the vote was taken on the ques-
ton above referred TO- That being the
casc, and all knowing that a majority
of thc members present did vote to re
consider. not one Of them thought of
raising the point that it required a two
thirds vote or questioning the legality
Of the ruling, because they believed at
| the time that a majority vote was all
that WAS required to reconsider any
question decided 10y tins body If done
within certain limits of time.
But recognizing the fact that igno-
rance of the law does not destroy the
force Of the law, and that the law re-
Quiros twOthirds vote to reconsider a
question once decided by this body,
and knowing that the resolution before
referred to did pass this body by re
corded vote of Q TO 7, and that tive
thirds of the members present did not
vote to reconsider the same, as they,
seven i'm uumher have stated nnd",
their own signatures, ! am constrained
to object to the record being approved
rs read 10y the Clerk.
/ Therefore move that Mr.. Davis''
motion to reconsider be SO altered ol
changed as to read in the records oI
TINS body. Lost two thirds of the
members present not voting IN the
Affirmative, as per Rule ~, page u, o
tine rules. and that all subsequent ac
tion Of this body bearing on this ca
ls erased or stricken from the records
and the rest Of the minutes as read by
the Clerk be approved.
I insist on this correction of tn,
record MS due to the minority by every
member WHO was prcscnt, as q matter
If right, and as due TO the president o
this body, who, unless this record il
corrected. will I've compelled TO sign j
with the knowledge that the recitals are
Lot supported by the facts.
TIE PRESIDENT SPEAKS.
President Pass rose after the plpcI
lad been read and said the resolution
Was passed without debate. Subse
mcntly Mr.. Hill rose to speak to it
but IS il WAS out of order the Chan
ruled him down. Afterwards, when 4
reconsideration was called for, there
were only two voices, rs far as he coulC
ascertain, against it, The Char dc
sired it to be understood that he haC
no private opinion about the matter
If the Board saw iit to change the re
cords he bad no objection, nor wOulD
he object 10 letting them stay as the,
are. The two-thirds rule referred t
had never been in active use IN The
Board.
THE RECORD CORRECT.
Mr. Dickorson said this was a pro
cccding new to all the Board. The re
cords were undoubtedly correct. III
only recollccted two noes on the ques
tion of reconsideration. He had grav
doubt whether the two-thirds rule AZ
piled to the case at issue No resolution
was ever adopted until after the bod.
adjourned. He could see no reason
whether or not the rule applied, +
change the records, for the resolution
Law on the table in the Board, and tn
body could do what it chose with 1t.
MIR. Hill asked if there WAS perceptl
! bic error in the records was 1t to b
| permitted 10 Stdnu hS udIl VI II
The Chair replied that he held ther
WAS DO error i'll the records.
HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND.
Mr.. Snead said he must he very oh
fuse. for ne could not understand tn
position the Chair took in regard to tn
matter. How the Chair could say ther
was no error when the two-thirds rul
had not been put into effect he 'coul
not comprehend. He wished to ente
his protest against the minutes BEN
signed as they stood.
Mr.. Chappcll desired to say he mean
no reflection whatever on the ChaiI
He bad the greatest confidence IN th
Chairs ruling, but he believed tn
Chair only overlooked the rule. Nj
Snead, also, meant ~ reflection oa tn
Chair.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO.
Mr.. Murphy said it was the Chair
duty 10 cali for recorded vote on tn
question. He thought the PreSideu
had made an erroneous decision. ii
thought the records should he correct
ed and signed by the President witt
out further ado.
Mr.. Otley cOuld not ascertain ho
n body could positively assert that ther
we're not two thirds voting for a recOr
sideration. The Chair certainly ha